| MISSINGLINK | Theoretical connection ... and a hint to interpreting several Down answers in this puzzle |
| DOUBLEDAY | Publishing company whose name serves as a hint to entering several Down answers in this puzzle |
| TAXEVASION | Financial crime committed by several Down answers in this puzzle? |
| GRISTLE | An old king is let out to form a connection and a tough one at that (7) |
| GENEHACKMAN | Winner of a Best Actor Oscar for "The French Connection" and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Unforgiven": 2 wds. |
| SOCIALCIRCLE | Group of people making connections ... and a hint to the round phrase starting in square |
| MATCHMAKERS | Facilitators of love connections, and a hint to the first words of 17-, 28- and 47-Across |
| THEMSTHEBREAKS | "Life is hard," and a hint to interpreting this puzzle's clues in all caps |
| SOUNDMIXING | Academy Awards category eliminated in 2021 ... or a hint to interpreting four clues in this puzzle |
| OPPOSITESATTRACT | Dating axiom ... or a hint to interpreting four pairs of answers in this puzzle |
| READMUSIC | Follow a composer's notation ... or a hint to interpreting four clues in this puzzle |
| WORDSQUARE | Classic letter puzzle - or, when parsed differently, a hint to three Down answers in this puzzle |
| PIECESOFEIGHT | Pirate plunder ... or a hint to interpreting an appropriate number of squares in this puzzle |
| DARKARTS | What sorcerers practice ... or a hint to interpreting five clues in this puzzle |
| SKYFALL | 2012 Bond film ... or a hint to six other Down answers in this puzzle |
| TIMEISMONEY | Benjamin Franklin adage ... or a hint to interpreting the answers to the four starred clues |
| RIMSHOT | Drum stroke after a punchline ... or a hint to interpreting the starred clues' answers |
| FOREXAMPLE | "To illustrate ...", and a hint to interpreting the starred clues |
| DOUBLESTANDARDS | Unequally applied rules, or a hint to interpreting the starred clues' answers |
| BENDINGTHETRUTH | Telling lies...or a hint to interpreting the starred clues' answers |
